KERSHAW'S NIGHT TO FORGET

4 – Runs allowed in third inning, his worst inning since giving up six in July 2012 – also in St. Louis.

10 – Cardinals who batted in the inning, the first time a team has batted around against Kershaw since Aug. 2009.

48 – Pitches, a career high in an inning.

4 – Times in 36 starts this season (regular and postseason) Kershaw had allowed four runs or more in a start.

1 – Times Kershaw had allowed 10 hits and at least five runs in four innings or fewer (July 2008, in his ninth career start).

NLCS: DODGERS VS. CARDINALS

(Cardinals win series, 4-2)

Game 1 — St. Louis 3, Dodgers 2 (13 inn.)

Game 2 — St. Louis 1, Dodgers 0

Game 3 — Dodgers 3, St. Louis 0

Game 4 — St. Louis 2, Dodgers 2

Game 5 — Dodgers 6, St. Louis 4

Game 6 — St. Louis 9, Dodgers 0

ST. LOUIS – Of all the expensive parts on the Dodgers’ $234.5 million machine, the last one they expected to break down was Clayton Kershaw.

Pitching the most important game of his career, Kershaw had one of the worst innings of that career in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers’ ace and presumptive National League Cy Young Award winner came unraveled in the third inning and didn’t make it through the fifth as the Dodgers were eliminated from the postseason in embarrassing fashion, routed, 9-0, by the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

The win sends the Cardinals on to their second World Series in the past three years and fourth in the past decade – and extends the Dodgers’ absence from that stage into a 26th year.

“I just didn’t have it tonight,” Kershaw said. “I just didn’t pitch good. I don’t have an answer (why). I just didn’t pitch good.”

It wasn’t just that Kershaw was off his usual dominant form – he was way off. The Cardinals’ four-run third inning was the most he had allowed in an inning all year and more than he had allowed in 32 of his previous 36 starts.

He finished with seven runs allowed on 10 hits in four-plus innings.

“Shell-shocked – I think that’s a good word for it,” Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said of the team’s state of mind after watching their ace humiliated at such a big moment. “We felt really great on the plane yesterday, having what we had lined up (Kershaw in Game 6 and Hyun-Jin Ryu in a potential Game 7). We felt good about facing (Michael) Wacha for a second time.

“Give (Wacha) credit. He’s the real deal. One-to-nothing, 9-0 – it doesn’t really matter. We didn’t score any runs. He was never in trouble. He was never in harm’s way.”

Wacha was selected the NLCS MVP for outdueling Kershaw twice (Games 2 and 6). And Friday, it was not the rookie with 12 big league starts under his belt (including three in the postseason) who collapsed under the weight of the moment. It was Kershaw.

“You know – it can happen. It can happen,” Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said. “We expect perfection out of someone like him every time. It just didn’t happen tonight.”

Kershaw’s downfall began with one out and no one on in the third inning. Cardinals leadoff man Matt Carpenter took a ball then proceeded to foul off seven consecutive pitches and worked the count full before dropping a double into the right-field corner.

Ellis called it “a game-changing at-bat,” and it seemed to stick with Kershaw the rest of the inning.

“He’s the best pitcher in baseball,” Carpenter said. “Honestly, when he got two strikes on me … my mindset immediately changed. ‘I’m not striking out. I’m not going to let him strike me out right here. I’m going to put this ball in play even if I roll over it and hit it softly.’”

Carlos Beltran followed with a single past a diving Mark Ellis and into right field, where Yasiel Puig made the first of a series of mistakes. His off-balance throw had no chance of getting Carpenter at home and wasn’t handled cleanly by cutoff man Adrian Gonzalez, allowing Beltran to advance. He scored two batters later when Yadier Molina singled through the middle.

The inning continued through two more singles and a disputed walk that set Kershaw off when he didn’t get a call against Matt Adams.

“No point in talking about it now,” Kershaw said of the pitch. “It’s over with now.”

It wasn’t quite over. The career-high 48-pitch inning – and all the innings that came before it – seemed to take a toll in the fifth when the first three batters reached base against Kershaw, forcing Dodgers manager Don Mattingly to go get him.

“Thank you for trying to find excuses, guys. I just didn’t pitch good,” Kershaw said when asked if the 48 pitches, the first short-rest start of his career (in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves) and the highest innings total of his career (259 combined regular season and playoffs) had all finally caught up with him.

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw watches as the wheels come off during the fifth inning of Game 6 on Friday night. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig misplays a ball hit by Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina in the fifth inning, hit much to the delight of the St. Louis fans. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Dodgers meet on the mound as starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw struggled before being pulled in the fifth inning. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Dodgers meet on the mound as starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw struggled before being pulled in the fifth inning. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw sits dejectedly in the dugout after being pulled in the fifth inning during Game 6. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig takes a called third strike in the second inning, one of his two strikeouts on the night. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig stands alone in the dugout and watches as the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate their NLCS win after Game 6 at Busch Stadium on Friday night. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Cardinals begin the celebrattion after being the Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS on Friday night. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
NLCS MVP Michael Wacha delivers for the Cardinals in Game 6. He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford chases down a double hit by the Cardinals' Carlos Beltran. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig misplays a ball hit by Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams signals safe as he scores in the fifth inng. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell looks a bit shell-shocked after his wild pitch scored Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma, seen in the background, in the fifth inning. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell's face says it all after he finally got out of the fifth inning during Game 6. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis can't get to a foul ball hit by Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig sits in the dugout darkness as the Dodger final at-bats are played during Game 6. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw is pulled in the fifth inning of Game 6 after giving up seven runs on 10 hits. ED ZURGA, GETTY IMAGES

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.